Biography
Florence Elizabeth Dawson entered the world on 31 May 1905 in London and departed it on 16 January 1993 in Guildford, Surrey. Brother Fred Desmond, known for his knockabout music-hall routines, preceded her into the profession. Across decades she took on numerous stage and screen parts, most often in light comedies, musicals and revues. Her particular talent for impersonation allowed her to assume several characters within single productions.
As one of impresario Charles B. Cochran’s favoured “girls,” she appeared in a number of his presentations, among them two Noël Coward works: On With The Dance in 1925 and This Year Of Grace! three years later, the latter crossing to Broadway alongside its author. She performed cabaret in the capital, broadcast on radio and headlined her own touring variety bill, Taking Off, throughout Britain. In 1937 she took part in the Royal Variety Performance.
Her screen career opened with The Road To Fortune in 1930. Further roles followed swiftly: Sally In Our Alley the next year; then, in 1932 alone, The River House Ghost, Nine Till Six, My Lucky Star, Murder On The Second Floor, The Marriage Bond, Impromptu and High Society. The 1933 releases Radio Parade, Long Live The King, Mr. Skitch and the uncredited soundtrack contribution to I Am Suzanne preceded Gay Love in 1934. Three further pictures—No Limit, Keep Your Seats, Please and Accused—appeared in 1936, with Kicking The Moon Around closing the decade in 1938.
During the war years she filmed Hoots Mon! in 1940, joined the London cast of Applesauce! alongside Max Miller and the Forces’ Sweetheart Vera Lynn, and joined ENSA troupes entertaining military camps. Into the 1950s she featured in Three Came Home (1950), returned to the Royal Variety Performance in 1951 and demonstrated her still-intact gift for multiple roles in the 1952 play Apples Of Eve. Although she announced retirement in 1953, she re-emerged for Charley Moon in 1956, appeared in the West End production of Auntie Mame starring Beatrice Lillie in 1958 and closed her screen work with Some Girls Do in 1969.
As one of impresario Charles B. Cochran’s favoured “girls,” she appeared in a number of his presentations, among them two Noël Coward works: On With The Dance in 1925 and This Year Of Grace! three years later, the latter crossing to Broadway alongside its author. She performed cabaret in the capital, broadcast on radio and headlined her own touring variety bill, Taking Off, throughout Britain. In 1937 she took part in the Royal Variety Performance.
Her screen career opened with The Road To Fortune in 1930. Further roles followed swiftly: Sally In Our Alley the next year; then, in 1932 alone, The River House Ghost, Nine Till Six, My Lucky Star, Murder On The Second Floor, The Marriage Bond, Impromptu and High Society. The 1933 releases Radio Parade, Long Live The King, Mr. Skitch and the uncredited soundtrack contribution to I Am Suzanne preceded Gay Love in 1934. Three further pictures—No Limit, Keep Your Seats, Please and Accused—appeared in 1936, with Kicking The Moon Around closing the decade in 1938.
During the war years she filmed Hoots Mon! in 1940, joined the London cast of Applesauce! alongside Max Miller and the Forces’ Sweetheart Vera Lynn, and joined ENSA troupes entertaining military camps. Into the 1950s she featured in Three Came Home (1950), returned to the Royal Variety Performance in 1951 and demonstrated her still-intact gift for multiple roles in the 1952 play Apples Of Eve. Although she announced retirement in 1953, she re-emerged for Charley Moon in 1956, appeared in the West End production of Auntie Mame starring Beatrice Lillie in 1958 and closed her screen work with Some Girls Do in 1969.